Enhancing Hydrogen Oxidation and Evolution Kinetics by Tuning the Interfacial Hydrogen-Bonding Environment on
Kaiyue Zhao1, Xiaoxia Chang1, Hai-Sheng Su1
1College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
Angewandte Chemie (International Ed. in English)
|August 9, 2022
Summary
Organic additives enhance hydrogen oxidation and evolution reactions (HOR/HER) on platinum catalysts by modifying interfacial water. This discovery offers a new strategy for boosting renewable energy technologies.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Renewable Energy
Background:
- Efficient hydrogen oxidation and evolution reactions (HOR/HER) are crucial for renewable energy technologies.
- Electrocatalytic activity is increasingly understood to depend on the electrochemical interface, not solely catalyst composition.
- Platinum (Pt) is a key catalyst for HOR/HER, but its interfacial properties can be tuned.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of specifically adsorbed organic additives on the HOR/HER activity of polycrystalline Pt.
- To elucidate the mechanism by which these additives enhance catalytic performance.
- To demonstrate the potential of electrochemical interfacial engineering for catalyst optimization.
Main Methods:
- Utilized in situ surface-enhanced infrared and Raman spectroscopies to probe the electrochemical interface.
- Employed theophylline derivatives as organic additives.
- Tested HOR/HER activity on polycrystalline Pt surfaces modified with these additives.
Main Results:
- Theophylline derivatives enhanced intrinsic HOR/HER activity on Pt by up to a factor of 3.
- Adsorbed additives introduced weakly hydrogen-bonded water at the interface.
- Optimal activity was observed with 7-n-butyltheophylline, which modulated the hydrogen bonding network without removing interfacial water.
Conclusions:
- Electrochemical interfacial engineering using organic additives is a viable strategy to boost HOR/HER performance.
- Tuning interfacial water structure is key to enhancing electrocatalytic activity.
- This approach holds promise for developing more efficient catalysts for renewable energy applications.
Keywords:
Hydrogen evolution reactionHydrogen oxidation reactionInterfacial WaterPlatinumSurface Enhanced SpectroscopiesMore Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:13Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
12.4K
Alkenes undergo reduction by the addition of molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. Because the process generally occurs in the presence of a transition-metal catalyst, the reaction is called catalytic hydrogenation.
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
12.4K
02:17Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
3.4K
Catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes is a transition-metal catalyzed reduction of the double bond using molecular hydrogen to give alkanes. The mode of hydrogen addition follows syn stereochemistry.
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
3.4K
02:50Catalysis
27.4K
The presence of a catalyst affects the rate of a chemical reaction. A catalyst is a substance that can increase the reaction rate without being consumed during the process. A basic comprehension of a catalysts’ role during chemical reactions can be understood from the concept of reaction mechanisms and energy diagrams.
27.4K
02:24Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
8.0K
Introduction
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
8.0K
01:28Reduction of Benzene to Cyclohexane: Catalytic Hydrogenation
4.8K
Unlike the easy catalytic hydrogenation of an alkene double bond, hydrogenation of a benzene double bond under similar reaction conditions does not take place easily. For example, in the reduction of stilbene, the benzene ring remains unaffected while the alkene bond gets reduced. Hydrogenation of an alkene double bond is exothermic and a favorable process. In contrast, to hydrogenate the first unsaturated bond of benzene, an energy input is needed; that is, the process is endothermic. This is...
4.8K